Year-End Review, Bookstore for Indie Authors, Welcome Orna Ross!
Fresh Insights Weekly Highlights in the Indie Author and Creative Arts World
Season Greetings Indie Authors and Curious Creatives,
My dream of opening an indie author bookstore is one step closer to becoming a reality as of this week! We rented space at the Boston Hill Center, which is a mall in downtown Marion, Indiana that is coming back to life with artists, an indoor farmer’s market, a cozy restaurant, nail salon, barber shop, and other small businesses. Our local group of indie authors are excited to join these budding entrepreneurs!
We will spend January getting the bookstore set up. We also plan to launch the Stories From The Orchard anthology on Kickstarter in January. It’s a lot to do in a month. Stay tuned for progress reports!
December is typically the month we reflect on progress throughout the year. I started a Year-End Review Chat where you can share your accomplishments and 2025 reflections.
On the chat, Bess Sturgis talks about life after losing her husband of 54 years. Through her heartbreak she published and promoted two new children’s books, Where’s Bear? and Delamous the Dragon, that her late husband had helped her create.
Jill Ebstein published Coming of Age at Forty and she is working on a book of musings.
Paul Cobbin published Decode Your Diagnosis and started a podcast to help people with chronic conditions.
Mike Matzdorff published The Universe, went on a book tour, wrote two books, and he is developing a writing app!
Chris Stolle pushed himself through debilitating disease to work on a collection of poems and short stories he plans to publish in 2026. He also contributed poems to our Stories From The Orchard anthology. Chris will be the Indie Author Insights featured author for January!
YOU are welcome to join the Chat and let us know about your 2025 writing journey!
Favorite Quote of the Week
“Too many people wait for the ‘perfect’ moment to start. The perfect plan. The perfect setup. The perfect level of confidence. But that moment doesn’t actually exist. You create it by starting.” ~ Pat Flynn
Pat’s quote resonates with me as I think about all the things I need to do to finish the Stories From The Orchard anthology, create a Kickstarter campaign, and open a brick and mortar bookstore–all within the next 90 days! It’s overwhelming when I think about “everything.” But, when I just start—instead of procrastinating, which my ADD brain keeps trying to get me to do—the “perfect” moment arrives. I know stepping outside my comfort zone and starting something I’m passionate about creates synergy, and that’s when magic happens!
Favorite Substack Find of the Week
Read Write & Publish Books with Orna Ross
Orna Ross is in the house!
I’ve followed Orna for many years through her organization, The Alliance of Independent Authors.
I’m fascinated by how fast Orna connected with her tribe on Substack. She created a Chat thread, “My Substack Chatroom: A private space for us to converse, connect and create good things together” and she’s posted some Notes. Her publication is already at #23 on the Rising Literature Leaderboard. She hasn’t even published a newsletter yet. That shows the power of Chat and Notes on Substack!
Orna’s chat thread reminded me to use the chatroom feature. The last time I created a chat was April. I used it a few times when I first started on Substack, but I hadn’t built a following yet, so I didn’t get much response. It takes patience and persistence when you start from scratch.
Orna has spent years building her email list that would follow her to any platform. I’m glad she chose Substack!
Indie Author & Creative Arts Events to Check Out This Weekend
13 December 2025
Mark Saluke will be at Barnes & Noble, 17070 Mercantile Blvd, Noblesville, Indiana, Saturday, 12/13/25, 1-3 p.m. for a reading and signing from his debut book, Lucy’s Way.
Author Expo at Indy Reads, Saturday, 12/13/25, 12-2 p.m., 1066 Virginia Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana.
Midwest Book Exchange - Author Meet & Greet, Saturday, 12/13/25, 1-4 p.m., Midwest Leak Studio, 5860 Michigan Road, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Do you have an upcoming book signing or event to share? Post in the comments or email kathy@indieauthorsassociation.com.
That’s your Fresh Insights quick update for this week. Hopefully, one or more sparked your curiosity and inspired your muse. Stay warm!
Kathy Gerstorff
WriterKat
Special thanks to Indie Author Insights paid subscribers (and comp subscribers from referrals/contributing to Stories From The Orchard anthology) and Indie Authors Association founding members: Ashley Gary Johnson, Bess Sturgis (ghoulianastories.com), Chris Stolle, Chris McWhirt, Herman Floyd Renfro, Fleur Hull, Jennifer Huston Schaeffer, Jill Ebstein, J.J. Devine, John Sherman, Karen Smiley, Kay Castaneda, Leland P. Gamson, Lloyd Mullins (moonsthoughts.com), Mark Saluke, Mike Nelson, Morgana Shea, Nancy Nau Sullivan, Paul Cobbin, Sarah Styf, Stella Fosse, Teresa Keefer, and Wendy Mayhew.
Thank you so much for the kind welcome, Kathy 🙏
Thanks for all the work you do for Indie authors!